Driver had 16 times level of cocaine in system

A drug driver had more than 16 times the limit of cocaine in his system and almost 10 times the limit of another substance, a court heard.

Martyn George McEvoy (32) was stopped by police on Manchester Road in Nelson at about 4pm. Mr Andrew Robinson (prosecuting) told Burnley magistrates: “The officer doesn’t give any evidence of any bad driving or any impairment particularly, but he did stop him.”

The hearing was told a drugs swipe was found to contain cocaine and benzoylecgonine. McEvoy had 166 micrograms of cocaine in his blood.

The limit is 10 micrograms per litre of blood. He also had 1,492 micrograms of benzoylecgonine, against the limit of 150.

The defendant, who had a conviction for drink driving from 2007, admitted driving with a controlled drug –cocaine benzoymethylecgonine – above the specified limit and not having insurance, on March 19th.

Unemployed McEvoy, of Rossendale Road, Burnley, was fined £120, with a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs. He was banned for three years. Bench chairman John James told him: “We need to look at the manner of driving. In this particular case there was no indication as to any bad driving.”

The defendant, who was not represented by a solicitor, told the court: “There is no excuse really. I can’t say anything else really, other than it was stupidity and I shouldn’t have done it. “He added: “My insurance ran out the day before.”